University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
No. 2 Carolina Rebounds To Take Series From Duke
April 14, 2007 | Baseball
April 14, 2007
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 1 
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Photo Gallery 2
NOTE: An extensive photo gallery of Saturday's second game, plus the post-game Clips for Cure will be posted Sunday afternoon.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - All-America shortstop Josh Horton homered and drove in two runs, and right-hander Adam Warren gave up just three hits over five innings to lead No. 2 North Carolina to a 7-4 series-clinching win over Duke in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (32-6, 13-5 ACC) also got two hits and two RBI from second baseman Garrett Gore as they clinched their sixth straight series win over the Blue Devils (23-15, 4-14 ACC).
With the win in the rubber game of the series, the Tar Heels gain one point towards the Carlyle Cup, the all-sports competition between Carolina and Duke. The 2006-07 event is tied at 9.5 after UNC claimed the baseball point Saturday. Duke posted a 9-3 win in Saturday's first game to even the series heading into the finale. A season-high 2,925 fans took in both games.
Horton, who was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, and Gore, who went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI, were two of four Tar Heels with a pair of base hits on the day. Dustin Ackley, who saw his 28-game hitting streak snapped in Saturday's first game, started a new streak in game two with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Designated hitter Tim Federowicz and also added two hits and an RBI.
Warren moved to 7-0 on the season and 8-0 in his career with a win in his first career ACC start. The New Bern native struck out five and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks. Closer Andrew Carignan came on in the sixth and struck out three over three innings. Federowicz allowed a pair of unearned runs in the ninth.
Duke reliever Michael Ness (3-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over just two innings. Starter Jonathan Anderson allowed two runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings and also had two base hits in the game. Center fielder Jimmy Gallagher drove in three runs and hit a two-run homer in the ninth.
The teams traded runs in the third, as Ryan McCurdy singled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly to center by Gallagher in the top of the inning, and Ackley and Federowicz followed with consecutive doubles to lead off the bottom half to tie the game at one.
Duke regained the lead in the fourth when Matt Williams walked, took third on a sac bunt and a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI groundout by Tim Sherlock, but Carolina came right back to tie the score in the bottom of the inning on an Ackley sacrifice fly. Gore started the rally with a leadoff bunt single and moved to third on a pair of walks before Ackley lofted a fly ball to right center to drive in his ACC-best 49th run of the season.
Horton gave the Tar Heels their first lead of the day in the fifth with his third home run of the season, a solo shot to right off Ness. Third baseman Chad Flack followed with a bunt single before he stole second and scored on Gore's double down the right field line to give UNC a 4-2 advantage.
Horton also drove in a run in the sixth, as the Tar Heels grabbed a five-run lead. Successive singles by Ackley, Federowicz and Horton led to the first run. After an intentional pass to Reid Fronk, Benji Johnson and Gore drew bases-loaded walks to drive in the final two runs of the inning.
Duke cut the lead to the final three-run margin on Gallagher's two-run homer off Federowicz in the ninth.
Carolina is back in action Tuesday against Campbell at 6 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
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